Week 9 - Design Freeze & Round Table Discussion

So today we had our round table discussion where we were required to present our product concept as it is, preferably as a design freeze where we are able to discuss and consolidate our product concept before proceeding to finalise the design.

We needed to discuss the product narrative, as laid out in Kahlia's Scenario Blog entry (Week 9: Narrative, Brief and hard evidence SORTED! )

The following components of our design were required to be demonstrated:

• Fan speed controlled by number of flames
• How this is facilitated through the Magnetic Levitation
• How the gas flames are ignited from eachother 

Each of these elements have been explored through proof of concept models so the easiest method of demonstrating the design freeze was to use video footage from each model. The following video was used to enable the discussion on further development:

As the final notes in the video explain, our next steps are to:

• Get the Arduino Levitation working
• Explore the use of piezo ignitors to light the first gas flame
• Use solenoids to control the output from lighters in the proof of concept model/prototype (I'm not sure that using a solenoid for each lighter is the best way for us to activate each of the lighters... simply the cost of this would render the project inviable... it would be better to try and use a single mechanism that can adjust the number of lit flames on it's own)
• Explore the interaction between social networking sites and the product

Additionally, we need to:

• Purchase the lighters for the proof of concept model
• Nut out the mechanism for the lighter control (without the use of individual solenoids)
• Collect all components for the Arduino Levitation Circuit
• Develop a form for the Object

We did actually manage to explore some options for a form today however John will be exploring this further over the coming weeks. Here are some initial scribbles:

We will also be meeting outside class this over the next couple of weeks to pool our resources in modelmaking tools and parts to nut out the mechanism for the ignition system.